Chaiya insists he'll be back

FORMER PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTER Chaiya Sasomsap vows to regain his portfolio just one week after the Constitution Court’s ruling to disqualify him.

Just a week after the Constitution Court disqualified him from holding office, former public health minister Chaiya Sasomsap yesterday vowed to return to the position.

He said he would like to return to the Public Health Ministry in the new Cabinet line-up - if he did not get a ministerial post in the Interior, Justice or Commerce ministries.

Chaiya was disqualified from holding office on July 9 by the Constitution Court for failing to declare some of his wife's assets within a specified deadline.

The former minister was speaking after bidding farewell to ministry officials and more than 1,000 people from Nakhon Pathom province who had gathered in a show of support.

"If I cannot get a post in the ministries I want, I will have to apologise to [Deputy Public Health Minister] Wicharn Meenchainant, because I may have to return to the Public Health Ministry. I feel bad, because I've already told Wicharn that he should rise to the post of minister," he said.

Chaiya said if he did not get to be a minister again, he would not accept a deputy minister or advisory post in any ministry.

He lost his status as a minister after the Constitution Court ruled he had failed to inform the National Counter Corruption Commission that his wife held more than 5 per cent of a private company's shares within 30 days of taking office.

The case was launched by 36 senators who gathered signatures to petition the court via the Senate Speaker. The action was taken under Article 92 of the Constitution, which covers the conduct of a minister and possible disqualification for violations.

People Power Party (PPP) spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang showed surprise at hearing of Chaiya's plan to regain his post but declined to comment.

However, a Government House source who asked not to be named criticised Chaiya's remarks as inappropriate.

The authority to allocate portfolios belongs to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who wants the Cabinet reshuffle to improve the government's image. Therefore, Chaiya should not have said anything to create more confusion.

"I cannot tell you whether it is appropriate for Chaiya to get the post back. It depends on one's conscience, because the law does not prohibit it," the source said.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said three ministers facing charges in the two- and three-digit lottery case planned to seek a Constitution Court ruling on whether they had to suspend their duties if the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders accepted the case for hearing on July 28.

Surapong is one of the ministers. The others are Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemas.

Surapong, who is also a deputy PM and secretary-general of the PPP, yesterday said the party would give Samak a free hand to decide on Cabinet changes to boost the government's image.

"We've discussed the matter among the factions, and there will not be a quota for any faction in the reshuffle," he said.

Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said Samak would not consult with any Cabinet member or party MPs. He said the prime minister had revealed that more than 10 portfolios faced changes.